Connector for connecting sheet piles

ABSTRACT

A connecting profile of substantially uniform cross-section for interconnecting sheet piles. The connecting profile includes a central strip, from which two identical hooked profiles for hooking the locks of two sheet piles in a laterally reversed manner project in opposing main coupling directions. The hooked sections of the hooked profiles extend in a mirror-inverted manner in relation to each other. The two hooked profiles are offset relative to each other on the central strip in such a way that the main coupling directions of the sheet piles hooked into the connecting profile extend at least approximately in a common plane, when the locks engaged with the hooked sections take up the largest axial distance along the main coupling directions in relation to each other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a connecting profile of uniform cross-section for interconnecting sheet piles, which connecting profile comprises a central strip, from which two identical hooked profiles for hooking the locks of two sheet piles in a laterally reversed manner project in opposing main coupling directions, the hooked sections of the hooked profiles extending in a mirror-inverted manner in relation to each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Connecting profiles of the aforementioned type are known from the prior art and have also been disclosed in DE 103 18 769 A1. Such connecting profiles are used inter alia when putting up a bulkhead composed of several sheet piles that are to be interconnected in a straight line in order to be able to compensate for positional deviations that could occur between the sheet-pile wall sections to be interconnected.

For this purpose, the connecting profile is provided with two identical hooked profiles, which extend in a mirror-inverted manner in relation to each other and into which those locks of the sheet piles that can be otherwise directly interconnected, are hooked, the main coupling directions of the sheet piles—that is, the directions of extension assumed by the sheet piles when the locks are hooked without being able to swivel in the hooked profiles—extend in opposite directions in relation to each other. The connecting profile then compensates for possible positional deviations by enabling the locks to swivel in the hooked profiles of the connecting profile.

However, the mirror-inverted arrangement of the hooked profiles involves a problem in the connecting profile known from the prior art. The tensile forces caused by the hooked locks and acting along the main coupling directions act on the connecting profile at a distance from each other and thus cause large bending and torsional stresses in the connecting profile that have to be absorbed by the latter.

Based on this prior art, it is the object of the invention to specify a connecting profile, in which the bending and torsional stresses arising in the connecting profile are reduced.

This object is achieved by a connecting profile having the characteristic features specified in Claim 1, and particularly by arranging the two hooked profiles on the central strip in an offset manner in relation to each other such that the main coupling directions of the sheet piles hooked into the connecting profile extend at least approximately in a common plane when the locks that are engaged with the hooked sections take up the largest axial distance in relation to each other along the main coupling directions.

The design of the connecting profile in the manner suggested by the invention helps the holding forces caused by the locks hooked on the hooked profiles to be introduced into the connecting profile in such a way that the connecting profile is substantially subject to tensile stress. Since the tensile forces act against each other in a common plane, the torsional and bending stresses occurring in the connecting profile known from the prior art are avoided or at least reduced in the connecting profile disclosed by the present invention. The improved progress of stress in the connecting profile enables the latter to resist large holding forces acting thereon. The connecting profile can also be provided with appropriately small dimensions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Additional advantages of the invention are specified in the following description, drawings, and the sub-claims.

In order to hold the connecting profile in a defined position relative to the sheet piles, the central strip in a particularly preferred embodiment of the connecting profile of the invention is made to extend beyond one of the two hooked profiles and designed as a hooked strip. The free end of the hooked strip in this exemplary embodiment comprises a hook-shaped connecting section, which points in the direction of the hooked profile in which the free end of the hooked section points away from the connecting section. For example, another sheet pile or a connecting profile attached to a carrier element such as a T-beam, a double T-beam, a tubular pile or a similar carrier element can be hooked into this additional hooked strip, which preferably extends transversely in relation to the two main coupling directions.

In order to ensure that the sheet pile to be hooked or the carrier element to be connected is held in the most secure manner possible, the cross-section of the connecting section of the additional hooked strip is preferably extended in a wedge-shaped manner.

It is particularly advantageous if the hooked strip together with one of the two hooked profiles forms a defined lock for hooking in sheet piles or connecting profiles. Thus in a particularly preferred refinement of the previously described embodiment, the hooked strip, the connecting section, and that flat side of the hooked profile that is facing the connecting section are arranged in such a way that the arrangement takes the form of a Larssen lock. In this manner, the hooked profile performs two functions. Firstly, it serves for hooking the sheet piles along the main coupling directions. Secondly, the related hooked profile acts as a component of another lock into which, for example, a Larssen lock of another sheet pile can be hooked.

Alternatively, it is suggested to design the connecting profile of the invention as a weld-on connector by providing that side of one of the hooked profiles which is turned away from the hooked section with a flattened weld surface. The connecting profile can then be welded on corresponding carrier elements, such as double T-beams, or tubular piles, or even on adjacent sheet piles. Both hooked profiles are preferably provided with corresponding weld surfaces so that the installation position of the connecting profile need not be taken into consideration when welding the connecting profile. This additionally simplifies the pre-assembly of the connecting profile on a carrier element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the connecting profile for interconnecting sheet piles is designed with so-called Larssen locks. For this purpose, each hooked profile comprises a substantially straight connecting section, which extends at least approximately at right angles in relation to the central strip and merges into the hooked section. The hooked section extends in a manner that is curved by at least approximately 180° so that its free end points to the central strip and forms an opening with the latter to hook in the lock. Both the openings of the hooked profiles point toward opposite directions. The hooked profile thus designed is firstly suitable for hooking the aforementioned Larssen locks securely and easily, and secondly permits sufficient swivel movements of the Larssen locks in the hooked profile.

Since the forces acting on the hooked profile bring about corresponding bending moments, particularly in the transition of the connecting section into the central strip, it is suggested according to the present invention to provide the connecting profile with appropriately massive dimensions particularly at this transition. For this purpose, it is suggested to design the connecting section or at least that side of one of the two hooked profiles which is turned away from the inner chamber and points outwardly in such a way that the side merges flush into one of the longitudinal edges of the central strip. In this way an accumulation of material is achieved in the region of the transition, thereby imparting special strength to the hooked profile in this particularly stressed section.

In order to improve the diversion of the tensile stresses acting on the hooked profile into the central strip, it is further suggested to design the inner chamber of every hooked profile in such a way that the central strip merges into the connecting section forming a radius. This design measure firstly enables the diversion of the occurring tensile stresses into the central strip in an undisturbed manner and secondly enables the corresponding material accumulation in the region of the transition of the connecting section into the central strip, thereby also increasing the strength of the connecting profile in this particularly stressed section.

It is further suggested that the inner chamber of each hooked profile be provided with an oval cross-section so that the Larssen lock hooked into the hooked profile can swivel back and forth within the largest possible range in the hooked profile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained below in more detail based on two exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of a connecting profile of the invention having two hooked sheet piles;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second exemplary embodiment of a connecting profile of the invention in which additionally a hooked strip serving as a Larssen lock is provided; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view on a smaller scale showing an arrangement comprising three sheet-pile wall sections made of Larssen U-sheet piles, in which the connecting profile shown in FIG. 2 is used for connecting the three sheet-pile wall sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of a connecting profile 10 of the invention for interconnecting two Larssen sheet piles 12 along two main coupling directions X and Y.

The connecting profile 10 has a central strip 14, on which two identically designed hooked profiles 16 are provided. Each hooked profile 16 has a substantially straight connecting section 18, which extends approximately at right angles to the flat side of the central strip 14. That side of the connecting section 18 which points outwardly is flat and merges flush into the longitudinal edge of the central strip 14. That side of the connecting section 18, which delimits the inner chamber 20 merges into the flat side of the central strip 14 forming a radius 22. This design firstly increases the strength of the transition between the connecting section 18 and the central strip 14 and secondly diverts the forces acting on the hooked profile 16 uniformly into the central strip 14.

The connecting section 18 in turn merges into a hooked section 24, which is curved by 180° and has a constant radius in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, thereby following a semi-circle. The free end 26 of the hooked section 24 is disposed at a distance from the central strip 14, this distance corresponding to the length of the connecting section 18, and forms an opening 28 with the central strip, into which opening the Larssen lock 30 of the sheet pile 12 is hooked. The width of the opening 28 has smaller dimensions than the width of the Larssen lock 30 in order to prevent the Larssen lock 30 from getting detached from the hooked profile 16. The two hooked profiles 16 are provided on the central strip 14 in a laterally reversed manner so that the two openings 28 of the hooked profiles 16 open toward opposite directions.

As shown further in FIG. 1, the two hooked profiles 16 are designed offset in relation to each other on the central strip 14. The offset between the two hooked profiles is selected such that the main coupling directions X and Y of the two sheet piles 12 hooked into the connecting profile 10 extend in a common plane E when the Larssen locks 30 are hooked into the hooked profiles 16 as intended and the sheet piles 12 extend in their main coupling directions X and Y. This is the case when the cuneiformly tapering Larssen hooks 32 of the Larssen locks 30 are hooked into the hooked sections 24 of the hooked profiles 16 in such a way that the Larssen locks 30 take up the largest possible axial distance in the main coupling directions X and Y, as shown in FIG. 1.

In this manner, it is possible for the forces acting on the connecting profile 10 by way of the sheet piles 12 to act on the connecting profile 10 as tensile forces without giving rise to additional bending moments in the connecting profile 10 while the sheet piles 12 extend simultaneously in a common line along the main coupling directions X and Y.

By providing each of the outwardly pointing sides of the connecting sections 18 with a two-dimensional design, these sides can simultaneously be used as contact surfaces if it is intended to use the connecting profile 10 as a weld-on connector. For this purpose, only one of the flattened connecting sections 18 of the connecting profile 10 must be made to lie on a carrier element, for example, a T-beam, a double T-beam, a tubular pile, or the like, or on the flat side of a sheet pile and welded along the longitudinal edges of the connecting section 18 with the carrier element or the sheet pile.

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a connecting profile 40 of the invention. The only difference between the connecting profile 40 and connecting profile 10 shown in FIG. 1 is that the central strip 42 is extended beyond one of the two hooked profiles 44 and forms a hooked strip 46. The hooked strip 46 runs at least approximately at right angles to the main coupling directions X and Y of the sheet piles 12.

The remaining design of the connecting profile 40, for example, the shape of the two hooked profiles 44 and their offset arrangement on the central strip 42, corresponds to the design of the previously described connecting profile 10. Thus the main coupling directions X and Y of the two sheet piles 12 hooked into the connecting profile 40 likewise run in a common plane E.

One end of the hooked strip 46 is provided with a connecting section 48, which is bent at right angles and widens cuneiformly. The connecting section 48 points in the direction of the hooked profile 44, the opening of which is turned away from the connecting section 48. The connecting section 48 and the length of the hooked strip 46 and that side of the hooked profile 44 that faces the connecting section 48 are dimensioned such that they jointly form a Larssen lock.

FIG. 3 shows the connecting profile 40 from FIG. 2 illustrating its use in an arrangement made of three sheet-pile wall sections 50, 52 and 54. The sheet piles 12 of the sheet-pile wall sections 50 and 52 disposed in a common line are hooked into the two hooked profiles 44, while the sheet pile 12 of the third sheet-pile wall section 54 is engaged with the connecting section 48 provided on the hooked strip 46.

As a result, the connecting profile 40 is held in a defined position relative to the two other sheet-pile wall sections 50 and 52. 

1. A connecting profile of uniform cross-section for interconnecting sheet piles, said connecting profile comprising: a central strip from which two identical hooked profiles for hooking the locks of two sheet piles in a laterally reversed orientation project in opposing main coupling directions and hooked sections of the hooked profiles extend in a mirror-inverted orientation in relation to each other; wherein the two hooked profiles are offset relative to each other on the central strip in such a way that the main coupling directions of the sheet piles hooked into the connecting profile extend at least approximately in a common plane when the locks engaged with the hooked sections take up the largest axial distance in relation to each other along the main coupling directions.
 2. The connecting profile recited in claim 1, wherein the central strip extends beyond one of the two hooked profiles and forms a hooked strip, a free end of which comprises a hook-shaped connecting section that points in the direction of the one of the two hooked profiles and the free end of the hooked section points away from the connecting section.
 3. The connecting profile recited in claim 2, wherein the cross-section of the connecting section extends cuneiformly.
 4. The connecting profile recited in claim 3, wherein the hooked strip, the connecting section and that flat side of a hooked profile that faces the connecting section form a Larssen lock.
 5. The connecting profile recited in claim 2, wherein the hooked strip, the connecting section and a flat side of the hooked profile that faces the connecting section form a Larssen lock.
 6. The connecting profile recited in claim 1, wherein the connecting profile is a weld-on connector and a side of one of the hooked profiles that is turned away from the free end has a flattened weld surface.
 7. The connecting profile recited in claim 1, wherein each hooked profile comprises a substantially straight connecting section that extends at least approximately at right angles to the central strip and which merges into the hooked section that is curved by at least approximately 180° and the free end of which points to the central strip and forms an opening with the central strip for hooking in the lock and wherein the two openings of the hooked profiles point in opposite directions.
 8. The connecting profile recited in claim 7, wherein the side of the connecting section of at least one of the two hooked profiles that is turned away from an inner chamber of the respective hooked profile and points outwardly therefrom merges flush into one of the longitudinal edges of the central strip.
 9. The connecting profile recited in claim 8, wherein the central strip in the inner chamber of each hooked profile merges into the connecting section while forming a radius.
 10. The connecting profile recited in claim 9, wherein the cross-section of the inner chamber of each hooked profile is oval shaped.
 11. The connecting profile recited in claim 8, wherein the cross-section of the inner chamber of each hooked profile is oval shaped.
 12. The connecting profile recited in claim 7, wherein the central strip in the inner chamber of each hooked profile merges into the connecting section on a radius.
 13. The connecting profile recited in claim 12, wherein the cross-section of the inner chamber of each hooked profile is oval shaped.
 14. The connecting profile recited in claim 7, wherein the cross-section of the inner chamber of each hooked profile is oval shaped. 